Glaus’ Bat Is Quiet, but He Has a Field Day

Troy Glaus will get no satisfaction looking at his line in the box score from Saturday’s 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays. The Angel third baseman struck out in the second inning, lined to right field in the fourth, grounded out in the sixth and was hit by a pitch in the eighth.

But Glaus’ impact on the game was as considerable as his 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame, because he started difficult double plays to end the third and fifth innings to help prevent Toronto from scoring.

“There are other ways to win games besides driving in runs,” Glaus said. “You can save runs too. You always want to drive in more runs than you let in. I didn’t drive in any runs today, but maybe I saved a few.”

With runners on first and third and one out in the third, Raul Mondesi chopped a grounder to Glaus, who fired to second baseman Adam Kennedy to start the double play.

After shortstop Benji Gil’s fielding error allowed Toronto to put runners on first and second with one out in the fifth, Alex Gonzalez ripped a shot to Glaus’ left. But Glaus made an excellent lunging stop and, after a 360-degree turn, threw to second to start another double play.

“I just kind of stuck my glove out there, and it went in,” Glaus said.

Does it help to be 6-5 on such a play?

“Yes and no,” Glaus said. “I may be able to reach a ball like that, but I’m also a long way from the ground.”

*

Center fielder Darin Erstad did not play Saturday because of lower back spasms and he probably will sit out today’s series finale. Erstad started at designated hitter Friday night and was hitless in four at-bats, his average falling to .242. . . . Brad Fullmer’s ninth-inning single Saturday was the first hit that Angel closer Troy Percival has given up in 6 1/3 innings. . . . Scott Spiezio, who started in left field Saturday, became the eighth Angel to bat in the No. 2 spot, joining Gil, Erstad, Wally Joyner, Orlando Palmeiro, David Eckstein, Shawn Wooten and Tim Salmon. . . . Toronto center fielder Jose Cruz Jr.’s hitting streak ended at 19 games.

TODAY

ANGELS’

SCOTT SCHOENEWEIS

(2-1, 3.22 ERA)

vs.

BLUE JAYS’

STEVE PARRIS

(0-2, 10.45 ERA)

SkyDome, Toronto, 10 a.m. PDT

Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090), KMXN (94.3 FM)

* Update--Joey Hamilton was scheduled to start for the Blue Jays today, but the right-hander, who has missed much of the last two seasons because of shoulder problems, was given an extra day of rest and pushed back to Monday.